THIS WAS MY DECEMBER 31, 2015 POST

It bears repeating...

As during 2016 I:

- signed with a publisher to write an historical book set in Nova Scotia and then researched like crazy

- plotted, planned and outlined book 4 in the Caleb Cove Mystery Series - CAME HOME FROM THE GRAVE

- went under the knife and got myself another titanium knee!

- designed and presented two, full day workshops for ARWA

- lived my life and had fun!

New Year’s Resolutions?

Run, run fast in the other direction...

Modern society has taken up goal setting and making New Year’s
Resolutions with a vengeance. Almost everyone talks about that resolution list.
Either they make one or they declare they are not making one.

Looking back over the years I recall more failures to follow
through (both mine and others) than I do accomplishments. Weight loss maybe the #1 resolution, or within my
writing world, finishing a book tops the list.

Why we fail: Our resolutions are:

Not task/action oriented (Break that “lose
fifteen pounds” into steps you can DO)

Too large to chew. (I will write
three hours every day – if you go to work and have a family, this might be more
than can be managed.)

Stated in words that
let our brains off the hook. (I will lose fifteen pounds leaves your brain
saying – oh no worries – 'will' is in the future - she wants to do this later.)

How do we fix that?

Step back and make sure you have a resolution that is an achievable
goal. Be realistic about your life style, the people around you and the
temptations that will accost you. One small step achieved is more effective
than one giant leap that misses the mark.

Break it down. Start with the end goal and then back it up. If you
want to publish a book, start with that as a fait accompli and ask what happened right before you published.
Maybe it is ‘up-loaded book to Amazon.’ Then ask: What did I have to do right
before that? Completing edits received from you line editor might be the
answer. Work backwards until you get to that which is manageable now. For me
that is writing free-fall pages for fifteen minutes every day.

Make sure it is an action step. “Losing weight” is a goal. “Drinking
two glasses of water before every meal” is an action step.

8 Helpful concepts to keep you on track:

Tackle one task at a time. Maybe you alternate: writing one month and health the
next.

Realize that it takes 30 days to
hammer a habit into place. Keep at it for 30 days.

Be aware that consistency is more
effective than volume.

Figure out your “bite size.” Set a manageable time for writing
or exercise or piano practice piano. Find what works for your life and
your brain.

Be aware that some days you might
fall short and be prepared to forgive yourself. Too often we miss for two days and our thinker says ‘you can’t do this – you might as well quit.’ Tell your thinker to buzz off and to get back at it the next
day.

Use positive phrasing. I AM WRITING fifteen minutes a day. This sets your inner gyroscope
to get at it! (Check out Shad Helmstetter's material. A free PDF download)What To Say When You Talk To Yourself

At the end of each month reward
yourself.

Make a list of rewards when you
set up your plan.

Make sure you do use the rewards.
You don’t want your brain saying “Hey – you didn’t give me that reward you
promised – why should I help you next month?”

If you know you are going to have
days you can’t fit things in – schedule that as a planned day off. And then
take it off so you stay honest with your brain.

Pick tasks you like or tasks you can live with. I dislike running but enjoy my bike and free weights.

Setting small, daily habits supports our life and
goals.

Doing these does not mean you don’t do more. It simply means that these are agreements with yourself that you can
meet. Small success create a foundation for bigger ones. Making your tasks a daily
choice leaves room to quit. Make it a daily habit – like brushing your teeth-
and don’t think -

JUST DO IT.

"Your life works to the degree you keep your agreements." Werner Erhard

7 comments:

Excellent post! I like the focus on taking action and developing bite-sized habits. Like you, I have a smoothie each morning - a habit I've maintained for three years. I aim for 20-30 minute sessions on my treadmill at least 4X a week. I'm off track with my writing but plan to gear up in the New Year.

I'm especially impressed with the one-blog-post-per-week accomplishment! I'm proud of myself when I manage one a month! You're setting the bar high, Mahrie, so maybe I'll try for two a month in 2016. Maybe. :-)

Hi Laurel - thanks for having a look! I tried one a month, 2 a week and so on until after about 2 years I settled in at one per week. I keep it simple - this month was longer than many. Good luck with them - moving to 2 a month is a sensible upward step. I'll be watching! LOL Happy New Year.